1. FIJI TO HOST THE 2014 ABU PACIFIC MEDIA PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE- Fiji has been selected to host, for the first time, the 5th Pacific Media Conference (PMC), in Nadi from November 17-19, 2014.
2. LASELEVU PREPARES FOR THE GOVERNMENT ROADSHOW – Preparations are well underway at Laselevu village in Nagonenicolo district, Naitasiri province which is the venue for the Government’s roadshow that will be held next week.
1. FIJI TO HOST THE 2014 ABU PACIFIC MEDIA PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE
Fiji has been selected to host, for the first time, the 5th Pacific Media Conference (PMC), in Nadi from November 17-19, 2014.
Ministry of Information permanent secretary, Sharon Smith-Johns said the Ministry is delighted to host an international conference such as the PMC in Fiji which allows the local media organizations the opportunity to gain a global perspective of the media landscape.
With the theme “Partnering for Broadcast Development”, the conference will attract more than 100 senior delegates and 20 speakers from across the Asia Pacific region.
“We are grateful to the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) for giving Fiji the opportunity to host this major media conference which will provide a platform for local broadcasters to coordinate closely with their peers from the region and share knowledge and expertise to improve and promote broadcasting,” Ms Smith-Johns said.
The Fijian Government recognizes that media plays a major role in national development and is committed to the professional enhancements of the media industry.
“There are more sources of news, information and more data than ever before. Media technology is rapidly changing and every media organization, no matter how small, can now reach a global audience.”
Ms Smith-Johns said everyone in the public and private media sectors should contribute to the development of media and improve accessibility of information to rural and remote islands.
The PMC will feature several workshops and meetings where discussions will centre on all aspects of broadcasting including journalism, sports coverage, digitization, disaster management, and the role broadcasters in a rapidly changing media landscape.
The conference is jointly organized by the ABU and the Pacific media partners in collaboration with the Ministry of Information.
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2. LASELEVU PREPARES FOR THE GOVERNMENT ROADSHOW
Preparations are well underway at Laselevu village in Nagonenicolo district, Naitasiri province which is the venue for the Government’s roadshow that will be held next week.
Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni, while launching the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community Campaign in Laselevu this week, encouraged the villagers and nearby communities to attend the roadshow to get information on Government services.
“Please spread the word to your friends and families to come out in numbers to Wainimala School Ground, where government ministries and departments will have booths displaying their services and interact with various service providers.”
“The initiative is part of government’s commitment to take the services to the grassroots level and empower them to effectively participate in government’s development programs relative to health, education and poverty alleviation. We hope that people in Naitasiri province will make effective use of this opportunity,” Dr Luveni said.
Mr Waisea Ibeco, village headman for Laselevu village said that the Government roadshow will provide them a great exposure into information sharing and developing networks with the different service providers.
“We are excited that this would be the first time for our village to host a program that will be publicized nationally and we are grateful to the Bainimarama government for thinking of us. We live far away from the main town and it costs us $10 to travel by bus to Suva town and it takes $300 to hire one carrier.
“There are 157 people in this village who are mostly subsistence farmers, fisherman and market vendors. For them to get this opportunity to acquire information will raise their level of awareness and empower them to easily access government services.
Likewise, the president of Laselevu Women’s Group Mrs Taravina Tabua said they look forward to gather more information regarding women’s economic projects.
“We hope to liaise with the fisheries department and Ministry of Women to help us with our fish pond project. The Laselevu women are also grateful to Dr Luveni for her official visit here through which we have secured funding from the government to build a women’s centre and start a canteen project.”
“We realize that this has been possible through the senior government officials who have come down all the way to help us with the projects to improve our livelihood,” Mrs Tabua said.
The roadshow will be held from May 28-29, 2014.
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